Spike.



PATENTED NOV. 13,1906.

J. w. FORD.

SPIKE.

.nruouron Hum new. 1905.

JOHN W. FORD, OF FINDLAY, OHIO.

SPIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Nov. 13,1906.

Application filed August 9. 1905- Qerial No- 273,462.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it'known that I, JOHN W. FORD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Findlay, in the county of Hancock, State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Spikes; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to railroad-spikes.

One object of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simple,inexpensive, durable, and efficient spike.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a spikeembodying such characteristics that accidental withdrawal thereof fromthe base in which it is driven will be prevented. 1

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists inthe combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter morefully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes inthe form, propor tion, size, and minor details may be made within thescope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing anyof the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my invention, partly insection, illustrating the spike driven into a tie. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the lower portion of the spike without the key. Fig.3 is a perspective view of a portion of the key.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, it will beseen that thepresent spike comprises a body 1, having one face at itslower end directed outwardly over the body, as at 2, and then convergingdownwardly and meeting the convergent opposite face 3, as at 4, toprovide the sharp cutting edge of the spike. Formed upon the inclinedportion 2 of the said enlargement intermediate the sides of the body 1of the spike is a lip 5, which is arranged in direct alinement with aninclined rectangular or other-shaped opening 6, formed through the spike from front to rear. The upper face of the said lip 5 is inclinedcorresponding to the inclination of the bottom of the opening 6.

The reference character 7 designates a key whose lower portion isslitted, asindicated by the reference character 8 to form the fingers 9,10, and 11. This key 7 is made of comparatively thin material, and thefingers 9, 10, and 11 are therefore bendable.

In the use of my improved spike the body portion 1 is driven into thetie or other ma terial and by reason of the enlarged portion at thelower end thereof the key 7 may be also readily driven into the tie orother material adjacent the rear face of the body 1. By reason of theinclination of the top of the lip 5 and the opening 6 the driving of thekey 7 willcause the intermediate finger 10 to pass through the saidopening 6 and the end fingers 9 and 11 to bend outwardly in a planecorresponding to the inclination of the inclined portion 2 of theaforesaid enlargement. It will thus be seen that the intermediate finger10 is directed in a plane opposite to the plane in which the fingers 9and 11 are directed, and obviously by reason of the position assumed bythese fingers 9, 10, and 11 with respect to the body 1 of the spikeaccidental withdrawal of the spike is positively prevented. It will beobserved that the fingers 9 and 11 have their extremities beveled, as at12 and 13, respectively, opposite to the plane of bevel 14 of theintermediate finger 10. The beveling of the fingers in this manner inaccordance with the inclined surface of the body 1, with which theycontact, facilitates the positioning of the fingers ofthe key 7 withrespect to the body 1 of the spike.

What is claimed is- 1. A spike comprising a body portion having anopening through its lower end portion and a key having bendable fingersat one end, one of which is adapted to pass through said opening of thebody portion, and means for directing the remaining-fingers in adifierent direction and away from the body portion.

2. A spike having va transverse opening therethrough and a keycomprising a plural ity of terminal fingers, said key being adapted tolie against a face of the spike through which the opening is formed, andsaid spike having means for directing a finger into the opening andhaving means for directing the remaining fingers in a direction awayfrom the spike.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. FORD.

Witnesses:

OHARLEs W. DAMON, A. M. FoARD.

